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Tong, C.-Y. E.; Meledin, D.; Loudkov, D.; Blundell, R.; Erickson, N.; Kawamura, J.; Mehdi, I.; Gol’tsman, G. |
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Title |
A 1.5 THz Hot-Electron Bolometer mixer operated by a planar diode based local oscillator |
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Conference Article |
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Year |
2003 |
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IEEE MTT-S Int. Microwave Symp. Digest |
Abbreviated Journal |
IEEE MTT-S Int. Microwave Symp. Digest |
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2 |
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751-754 |
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waveguide NbN HEB mixers |
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We have developed a 1.5 THz superconducting NbN Hot-Electron Bolometer mixer. It is operated by an all-solid-state Local Oscillator comprising of a cascade of 4 planar doublers following an MMIC based W-band power amplifier. The threshold available pump power is estimated to be 1 /spl mu/W. |
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Philadelphia, PA, USA |
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1516 |
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Meledin, D.; Tong, C. Y.-E.; Blundell, R.; Kaurova, N.; Smirnov, K.; Voronov, B.; Gol'tsman, G. |
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Title |
Study of the IF bandwidth of NbN HEB mixers based on crystalline quartz substrate with an MgO buffer layer |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2003 |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
Abbreviated Journal |
IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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Volume |
13 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
164-167 |
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Keywords |
NbN HEB mixer |
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In this paper, we present the results of IF bandwidth measurements on 3-4 nm thick NbN hot electron bolometer waveguide mixers, which have been fabricated on a 200-nm thick MgO buffer layer deposited on a crystalline quartz substrate. The 3-dB IF bandwidth, measured at an LO frequency of 0.81 THz, is 3.7 GHz at the optimal bias point for low noise receiver operation. We have also made measurements of the IF dynamic impedance, which allow us to evaluate the intrinsic electron temperature relaxation time and self-heating parameters at different bias conditions. |
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341 |
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Semenov, A. D.; Hübers, Heinz-Wilhelm; Richter, H.; Birk, M.; Krocka, M.; Mair, U.; Vachtomin, Yu. B.; Finkel, M. I.; Antipov, S. V.; Voronov, B. M.; Smirnov, K. V.; Kaurova, N. S.; Drakinski, V. N.; Gol'tsman, G. N. |
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Title |
Superconducting hot-electron bolometer mixer for terahertz heterodyne receivers |
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Journal Article |
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2003 |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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Volume |
13 |
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2 |
Pages |
168-171 |
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Keywords |
NbN HEB mixers |
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We present recent results showing the development of superconducting NbN hot-electron bolometer mixer for German receiver for astronomy at terahertz frequencies and terahertz limb sounder. The mixer is incorporated into a planar feed antenna, which has either logarithmic spiral or double-slot configuration, and backed on a silicon lens. The hybrid antenna had almost frequency independent and symmetric radiation pattern slightly broader than expected for a diffraction limited antenna. At 2.5 THz the best 2200 K double side-band receiver noise temperature was achieved across a 1 GHz intermediate frequency bandwidth centred at 1.5 GHz. For this operation regime, a receiver conversion efficiency of -17 dB was directly measured and the loss budget was evaluated. The mixer response was linear at load temperatures smaller than 400 K. Implementation of the MgO buffer layer on Si resulted in an increased 5.2 GHz gain bandwidth. The receiver was tested in the laboratory environment by measuring a methanol emission line at 2.5 THz. |
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343 |
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Loudkov, D.; Tong, C.-Y. E.; Blundell, R.; Kaurova, N.; Grishina, E.; Voronov, B.; Gol’tsman, G. |
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Title |
An investigation of the performance of the superconducting HEB mixer as a function of its RF embedding impedance |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2005 |
Publication |
IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
Abbreviated Journal |
IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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Volume |
15 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
472-475 |
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Keywords |
waveguide NbN HEB mixers |
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We have conducted an investigation of the optimal embedding impedance for a waveguide superconducting hot-electron bolometric (HEB) mixer. Three mixer chip designs for 800 GHz, offering nominal embedding resistances of 70 /spl Omega/, 35 /spl Omega/, and 15 /spl Omega/, have been developed. We used both High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) software and scale model impedance measurements in the design process. We subsequently fabricated HEB mixers to these designs using 3-4 nm thick NbN thin film. Receiver noise temperature measurements and Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) scans were performed to determine the optimal combination of embedding impedance and normal-state resistance for a 50 Ohm IF load impedance. A receiver noise temperature of 440 K was measured at a local oscillator frequency 850 GHz for a mixer with normal state resistance of 62 /spl Omega/ incorporated into a circuit offering a nominal embedding impedance of 70 /spl Omega/. We conclude from our data that, for low noise operation, the normal state resistance of the HEB mixer element should be close to the embedding impedance of the mixer mount. |
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1439677 |
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1464 |
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Baubert, J.; Salez, M.; Merkel, H.; Pons, P.; Cherednichenko, S.; Lecomte, B.; Drakinsky, V.; Goltsman, G.; Leone, B. |
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Title |
IF gain bandwidth of membrane-based NbN hot electron bolometers for SHAHIRA |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2005 |
Publication |
IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
Abbreviated Journal |
IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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Volume |
15 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
507-510 |
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Keywords |
NbN HEB mixers, applications |
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SHAHIRA (Submm Heterodyne Array for HIgh-speed Radio Astronomy) is a project supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) and is designed to fly on the SOFIA observatory. A quasi-optic design has been chosen for 2.5/2.7 THz and 4.7 THz, for hydroxyde radical OH, deuterated hydrogen HD and neutral atomic oxygen OI lines observations. Hot electron bolometers (HEBs) have been processed on 1 /spl mu/m thick SiO/sub 2//Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ stress-less membranes. In this paper we analyse the intermediate frequency (IF) gain bandwidth from the theoretical point of view, and compare it to measurements. |
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1558-2515 |
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1468 |
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Jiang, L.; Li, J.; Zhang, W.; Yao, Q. J.; Lin, Z. L.; Shi, S. C.; Vachtomin, Y. B.; Antipov, S. V.; Svechnikov, S. I.; Voronov, B. M.; Goltsman, G. N. |
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Title |
Characterization of NbN HEB mixers cooled by a close-cycled 4 Kelvin refrigerator |
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Journal Article |
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2005 |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
Abbreviated Journal |
IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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15 |
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2 |
Pages |
511-513 |
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NbN HEB mixers |
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It is quite beneficial to operate superconducting hot-electron-bolometer (HEB) mixers with a close-cycled 4 Kelvin refrigerator for real applications such as astronomy and atmospheric research. In this paper, a phononcooled NbN HEB mixer (quasioptical type) is thoroughly characterized under such a cooling circumstance. The effects of mechanical vibration, electrical interference, and temperature fluctuation of a two-stage Gifford-McMahon 4 Kelvin refrigerator upon the characteristics of the phononcooled NbN HEB mixer are investigated in particular. Detailed measurement results are presented. |
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1558-2515 |
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1469 |
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Jiang, L.; Antipov, S. V.; Voronov, B. M.; Gol'tsman, G. N.; Zhang, W.; Li, N.; Lin, Z. H.; Yao, Q. J.; Miao, W.; Shi, S. C.; Svechnikov, S. I.; Vakhtomin, Y. B. |
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Characterization of the performance of a quasi-optical NbN superconducting HEB mixer |
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Journal Article |
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2007 |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
Abbreviated Journal |
IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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Volume |
17 |
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2 |
Pages |
395-398 |
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NbN HEB mixers, noise temperature |
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In this paper we focus mainly on the investigation of the performance of a quasi-optical (planar log-spiral antenna) phonon-cooled NbN superconducting hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixer, which is cryogenically cooled by a close-cycled 4-K cryocooler, at 500 and 850 GHz frequency bands. The mixer's noise performance, stability of IF output power, and local oscillator (LO) power requirement are characterized for three NbN superconducting HEB devices of different sizes. The transmission characteristics of Mylar and Zitex films with incidence waves of an elliptical polarization are also examined by measuring the mixer's noise temperature. The lowest receiver noise temperatures (with no corrections) of 750 and 1100 K are measured at 500 and 850 GHz, respectively. Experimental results also demonstrate that the bigger the HEB device is, the higher the stability of IF output power becomes. |
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1051-8223 |
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1429 |
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Hajenius, M.; Yang, Z. Q.; Gao, J. R.; Baselmans, J. J. A.; Klapwijk, T. M.; Voronov, B.; Gol'tsman, G. |
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Optimized sensitivity of NbN hot electron bolometer mixers by annealing |
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Journal Article |
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2007 |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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Volume |
17 |
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2 |
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399-402 |
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NbN HEB mixers |
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We report that the heterodyne sensitivity of superconducting hot-electron bolometers (HEBs) increases by 25-30% after annealing at 85degC in high vacuum. The devices studied are twin-slot antenna coupled mixers with a small area NbN bridge of 1 mum times 0.15 mum, above which there is a SiO 2 passivation layer. The mixer noise temperature, gain, and resistance versus temperature curve of a HEB before and after annealing are compared and analysed. We show that the annealing reduces the intrinsic noise of the mixer by 37% and makes the superconducting transition of the bridge and the contacts sharper. We argue that the reduction ofthe noise is mainly due to the improvement of the transparency of the contact/film interface. The lowest receiver noise temperature of 700 K is measured at a local oscillator frequency of 1.63 THz and at a bath temperature of 4.2 K. |
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1426 |
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Ryabchun, S.; Tong, C.-Y. E.; Blundell, R.; Kimberk, R.; Gol'tsman, G. |
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Study of the effect of microwave radiation on the operation of HEB mixers in the terahertz frequency range |
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Journal Article |
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2007 |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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Volume |
17 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
391-394 |
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NbN HEB mixers |
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We have investigated the effect of injecting microwave radiation, with a frequency much lower than that corresponding to the energy gap of the superconductor, on the performance of the hot-electron bolometer mixer incorporated into a THz heterodyne receiver. More specifically, we show that exposing the mixer to microwave radiation does not cause a significant rise of the receiver noise temperature and fall of the mixer conversion gain so long as the microwave power is a small fraction of local oscillator power. The injection of a small, but controlled amount of microwave power therefore enables active compensation of local oscillator power and coupling fluctuations which can significantly degrade the gain stability of hot electron bolometer mixer receivers. |
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1051-8223 |
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1427 |
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Tretyakov, Ivan; Ryabchun, Sergey; Finkel, Matvey; Maslennikov, Sergey; Maslennikova, Anna; Kaurova, Natalia; Lobastova, Anastasia; Voronov, Boris; Gol'tsman, Gregory |
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Ultrawide noise bandwidth of NbN hot-electron bolometer mixers with in situ gold contacts |
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Journal Article |
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2011 |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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Volume |
21 |
Issue |
3 |
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620-623 |
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NbN HEB mixer bandwidth |
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We report a noise bandwidth of 7 GHz in the new generation of NbN hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixers that are being developed for the space observatory Millimetron. The HEB receiver driven by a 2.5-THz local oscillator offered a noise temperature of 600 K in a 50-MHz final detection bandwidth. As the filter center frequency was swept this value remained nearly constant up to the cutoff frequency of the cryogenic amplifier at 7 GHz. We believe that such a low value of the noise temperature is due to reduced radio frequency (RF) loss at the interface between the superconducting film and the gold contacts. We have also performed gain bandwidth measurements at the superconducting transition on HEB mixers with various lengths and found them to be in excellent agreement with the results of the analytical and numerical models developed for the HEB mixer with both diffusion and phonon cooling of hot electrons. |
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RPLAB @ gujma @ |
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716 |
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Lobanov, Y.V.; Tong, C.-Y.E.; Hedden, A.S.; Blundell, R.; Voronov, B.M.; Gol'tsman, G.N. |
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Direct measurement of the gain and noise bandwidths of HEB mixers |
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Journal Article |
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2011 |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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Volume |
21 |
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3 |
Pages |
645-648 |
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waveguide NbN HEB mixers |
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The intermediate frequency (IF) bandwidth of a hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixer is an important parameter of the mixer, in that it helps to determine its suitability for a given application. With the availability of wideband low noise amplifiers, it is simple to measure the performance of an HEB mixer over a wide range of IF at a fixed LO frequency using the standard Y-factor method. This in-situ method allows us to measure both the gain and noise bandwidths simultaneously. We have also measured mixer output impedance with a vector network analyser. Intrinsic time constant has been extracted from the impedance data and compared to the mixer's bandwidths determined from receiver Y-factor measurement. |
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RPLAB @ gujma @ |
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Lobanov, Y.; Tong, E.; Blundell, R.; Hedden, A.; Voronov, B.; Gol'tsman, G. |
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Large-signal frequency response of an HEB mixer: from 300 MHz to terahertz |
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Journal Article |
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2011 |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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Volume |
21 |
Issue |
3 |
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628-631 |
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waveguide NbN HEB mixers |
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We present a study of the large signal frequency response of an HEB mixer over a wide frequency range. In our experiments, we have subjected the HEB mixer to incident electromagnetic radiation from 0.3 GHz to 1 THz. The mixer element is an NbN film deposited on crystalline quartz. The mixer chip is mounted in a waveguide cavity, coupled to free space with a diagonal horn. At microwave frequencies, electromagnetic radiation is applied through the coaxial bias port of the mixer block. At higher frequencies the input signal passes via the diagonal horn feed. At each frequency, the incident power is varied and a family of I-V curves is recorded. From the curves we identify 3 distinct regimes of operation of the mixer separated by the phonon relaxation frequency and the superconducting energy gap frequency observed at about 3 GHz and 660 GHz respectively. In this paper, we will present observed curves and discuss the results of our experiment. |
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RPLAB @ gujma @ |
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719 |
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Shurakov, A.; Tong, C.-Y. E.; Blundell, R.; Kaurova, N.; Voronov, B.; Gol'tsman, G. |
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Title |
Microwave stabilization of a HEB mixer in a pulse-tube cryocooler |
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2013 |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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Volume |
23 |
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3 |
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1501504-1501504 |
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NbN HEB mixers |
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We report the results of our study of the stability of an 800 GHz hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixer cooled with a pulse-tube cryocooler. Pulse-tube cryocoolers introduce temperature fluctuations as well as mechanical vibrations at a frequency of ~1 Hz, both of which can cause receiver gain fluctuations at that frequency. In our system, the motor of the cryocooler was separated from the cryostat to minimize mechanical vibrations, leaving thermal effects as the dominant source of the receiver gain fluctuations. We measured root mean square temperature variations of the 4 K stage of ~7 mK. The HEB mixer was pumped by a solid state local oscillator at 810 GHz. The root mean square current fluctuations at the low noise operating point (1.50 mV, 56.5 μA) were ~0.12 μA, and were predominantly due to thermal fluctuations. To stabilize the bias current, microwave radiation was injected to the HEB mixer. The injected power level was set by a proportional-integral-derivative controller, which completely compensates for the bias current oscillations induced by the pulse-tube cryocooler. Significant improvement in the Allan variance of the receiver output power was obtained, and an Allan time of 5 s was measured. |
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Zhang, W.; Miao, W.; Li, S. L.; Zhou, K. M.; Shi, S. C.; Gao, J. R.; Goltsman, G. N. |
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Measurement of the spectral response of spiral-antenna coupled superconducting hot electron bolometers |
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2013 |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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23 |
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3 |
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2300804-2300804 |
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NbN HEB detector |
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Measured spectral response of spiral-antenna coupled superconducting hot electron bolometers (HEBs) often drops dramatically at frequencies that are still within the frequency range of interest (e.g., ~ 5 THz). This is inconsistent with the implied low receiver noise temperatures from the same measurements. To understand this discrepancy, we exhaustively test and calibrate the thermal sources used in Fourier transform spectrometer measurements. We first investigate the absolute emission spectrum of high-pressure Hg arc lamp, then measure the spectral response of two spiral-antenna coupled NbN HEBs with a Martin-Puplett interferometer as spectrometer and 77 K blackbody as broadband signal source. The measured absolute emission spectrum of Hg arc lamp is proportional to frequency, corresponding to an equivalent blackbody temperature of 4000 K at 1 THz, 1500 K at 3 THz, and 800 K at 5 THz, respectively. Measured spectral response of spiral-antenna coupled NbN HEBs, corrected for air absorption, is nearly flat in the frequency range of 0.5-4 THz, consistent with simulated coupling efficiency between HEB and spiral-antenna. These results explain the discrepancy, and prove that spiral-antenna coupled superconducting NbN HEBs work well in a wide frequency range. In addition, this calibration method and these results are broadly applicable to other quasi-optical THz receivers. |
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Trifonov, A.; Tong, C.-Y. E.; Blundell, R.; Ryabchun, S.; Gol'tsman, G. |
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Probing the stability of HEB mixers with microwave injection |
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2015 |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
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25 |
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2300404 (1 to 4) |
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NbN HEB mixer, stability, Allan-variance |
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Using a microwave probe as a tool, we have performed experiments aimed at understanding the origin of the output-power fluctuations in hot-electron-bolometer (HEB) mixers. We use a probe frequency of 1.5 GHz. The microwave probe picks up impedance changes of the HEB, which are examined upon demodulation of the reflected wave outside the cryostat. This study shows that the HEB mixer operates in two different regimes under a terahertz pump. At a low pumping level, strong pulse modulation is observed, as the device switches between the superconducting state and the normal state at a rate of a few megahertz. When pumped much harder, to approximate the low-noise mixer operating point, residual modulation can still be observed, showing that the HEB mixer is intrinsically unstable even in the resistive state. Based on these observations, we introduced a low-frequency termination to the HEB mixer. By terminating the device in a 50-Ω resistor in the megahertz frequency range, we have been able to improve the output-power Allan time of our HEB receiver by a factor of four to about 10 s for a detection bandwidth of 15 MHz, with a corresponding gain fluctuation of about 0.035%. |
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